Management of Esophageal Achalasia in Quebec

By Catherine Pouyez et al.
Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, 2019; Oct, 11(10):682-689.
Esophageal achalasia is a defective relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter with a loss of esophageal peristalsis causing dysphagia. Treatment can be Heller myotomy, pneumatic balloon dilation, Botox injections, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) or medical. The main objective of the study was to measure the extent of post-treatment dysphagia depending on the type of treatment.

Pernicious Anemia Presenting With Pancytopenia and Hemolysis: A Case Report

By Eric Gladstone.
Journal of Medical Cases, 2019; 10(3):81-83.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is a well-known cause of anemia. Pancytopenia and hemolysis are less frequently observed in vitamin B12 deficiency. Reported is the case of a 58-year-old man who presented with dyspnea on exertion, fatigue, and unintentional weight loss. He was found to have severe anemia (hemoglobin 3.3 g/dL) in association with pancytopenia and hemolysis. Extensive workup revealed vitamin B12 deficiency secondary to pernicious anemia.

The Flavone Luteolin, an Endocrine Disruptor, Relaxed Male Guinea Pig Gallbladder Strips

By Loren Kline
Gastroenterology Research, 2019;12(2):53-59.
Luteolin (3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) is a flavone with a yellow crystalline appearance present in numerous plants such as broccoli, green chili, and carrot. Luteolin is considered to be an endocrine disruptor with potent estrogen agonist activity and potent progesterone antagonist activity. Luteolin has effects on smooth muscle. Luteolin relaxed guinea pig trachea smooth muscle as it inhibited both phosphodiesterase and reduced intracellular Ca2+. Luteolin also caused vasorelaxation in rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle by inhibiting intracellular Ca2+ release, inhibition of sarcolemmal Ca2+ channels, and activation of K+ channels.